Chilled Cap

ABSTRACT

The present development is a liner unit comprising a light-weight polymeric material that becomes cold when exposed to water, which can be used to line a soft-crown cap, such as a baseball cap. The liner is sized to fit snuggly within the cap, and may be reversibly attached to the interfacing of the cap. Alternatively, the liner may comprise a magnet, sized and oriented on the liner so as to allow the magnet to engage with the underside of a button secured to the cap.

BACKGROUND

The present development is a liner unit comprising a light-weight polymeric material that becomes cold when exposed to water, which can be used in a baseball cap or similar soft-crown cap. The liner is sized to fit snuggly within the cap.

Baseball, golf, biking and hiking are a few of the many sports commonly undertaken in warm weather months. When the sun beats down on an athlete participating in one of these sports, the athlete can begin to perspire and feel hot. Wearing a soft-crown cap with a brim, like a baseball cap, provides some protection from the sun and heat. Placing a cool water-soaked cloth or other form of compress against the head can provide a cooling sensation and additional temporary relief from the heat.

Modifying baseball caps to provide cooling to an athlete has been reported in the prior art. One approach is to draw perspiration away from the athlete. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,668 describes a liner that is attached to the sweatband of a baseball cap. The '668 liner comprises a layer of moisture absorbent material which is backed by a layer of moisture impervious material. Similarly, U.S. Published Application 20080000013 describes a baseball cap made from a material designed to draw moisture away from the source. The '013 cap further comprises a headband comprising a foam layer adapted to absorb moisture. U.S. Published Application 20100107307 describes a liner for a baseball cap comprising a synthetic or natural absorbent material configured in the shape of the inside of a baseball cap. U.S. Published Application 20100138980 describes a partial liner for a baseball cap wherein the liner, attached to the sweatband using Velcro, is designed to absorb moisture from the athlete's head. The problem with the wicking approach is that it is only effective if the material is in direct contact with the perspiration site, e.g. the wearer's scalp, because hair can create a barrier to wicking.

An alternative approach is to provide a means for cooling the athlete, such as by providing a water source that slowly drains onto the athlete when the cap is worn. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,474 describes a baseball cap that has a liner comprising an insulating material layer positioned directly next to the inner surface fabric layer of the cap, a bladder positioned under the insulating material layer, and a cloth layer that is pervious to water positioned under the bladder. The bladder includes a plurality of miniscule apertures on the side adjacent to the water-pervious cloth thereby allowing water to flow from the bladder onto the cloth and then onto the head of the athlete. The problem with using a bladder to provide cooling water is that the constant dripping of water can leave the athlete's head wet and may cause water to leak onto the forehead and into the athlete's eyes. In addition, if there bladder sustains even a small rip or tear—not unexpected during a vigorous sporting activity—the water contained in the bladder will rain down on the athlete.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present development is a liner unit comprising a light-weight material that becomes cold when exposed to water, which can be used in a baseball cap or similar soft-crown cap. The liner is sized to fit snuggly within the cap. In a preferred embodiment, the liner is reversibly attached to the interfacing of the cap so that the liner may be removed to allow for washing the cap. In a second preferred embodiment, the liner comprises a magnet sized and oriented on the liner to engage with the underside of a button secured to the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention wherein the liner is positioned within a baseball cap and wherein the liner is visible through the cap;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the liner is positioned within a baseball cap and wherein the liner is visible through the cap; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cap of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is intended to provide the reader with a better understanding of the invention. The description is not intended to be limiting with respect to any element not otherwise limited within the claims. For example, the present invention will be described in the context of use with a commonly known baseball cap, but the teachings herein are not limited to use with caps designed for baseball players.

The present development is a liner unit 30 comprising a light-weight material that becomes cold when exposed to water, which is designed to fit within a soft-crown cap 10. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the cap 10 has the generic contour of a baseball cap, including a crown 12 and a hatband 16. The cap 10 may optionally include any or all of the following: a brim 20, an adjusting means 22, an adjustment void 23, one or more apertures 24 defined by stitching or grommets, and a button 26.

As is known in the art, the crown 12 may comprise a single piece of material or it may comprise a plurality of segments attached together. The crown 12 defines a semi-spherical shape having an interior face 11, a center 13 and a lower edge 15. In a typical design, six pie-shaped segments, wherein each segment defines a pointed end, are attached such that the points abut to form the center 13. Optionally, the center 13 may be covered by the button 26. As is known in the art, the hatband 16 is attached to the lower edge 15 of the crown 12 so as to lie against the inner face of the crown (not shown).

The liner unit 30 comprises a light-weight polymeric or natural material that becomes cold when exposed to water. In a preferred embodiment, the water-absorbent material is a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) material, such as a PVA towel, commonly referred to by swimmers as a “Sammy towel” or a “shammy”. The PVA towel is typically about 2 to 4 cm thick and may be cut to the desired shape and size. The material behaves in a sponge-like manner, and can typically hold at least 10 times its weight in aqueous liquids without feeling wet to a user. When wet, the temperature of the towel is typically lower than the outside air. Alternatively, the liner unit 30 may be composed of a sheet material comprising natural or synthetic rubber or a rubber-like polymer, which is capable of absorbing and transmitting water vapor and which contains a uniformly incorporated addition of polymer particles, wherein the polymer particles comprise at least one swellable modified polymer. An exemplary material is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,371, incorporated herein by reference. The liner unit 30 may also comprise an 80% polyester/20% nylon material available from Cold Snapp® LLC in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Other exemplary materials include the Chilly Pad material available from FroggToggs in Arab, Ala.

The liner unit 30 is preferably sized to fit snuggly against the interior face 11 of the crown 12, so when the user is wearing the cap 10, the liner unit 30 is in direct contact with the user's head. In an exemplary embodiment, the liner unit 30 is proportioned to fit between the hatband 16 and the interior face 11 of the crown 12, and then the liner unit 30 extends to cover the remainder of the interior face 11. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the liner unit 30 may optionally include stays 32, or similar form-fitting ribs, to allow the liner unit 30 to maintain its shape. In a preferred embodiment, the liner unit 30 comprises multiple sections attached together to fit with the crown 12 of the cap 10.

Optionally, the liner unit 30 may be reversibly attached to the cap 10 so that the liner unit 30 may be removed to allow for washing the cap. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the liner unit 30 may optionally comprise a magnet 34, sized and oriented on the liner unit 30 so as to engage with the underside of the button 26, or with a metal tab mounted at the center 13 on the inner face of the crown 12. The magnet 34 does not affect the functionally of the present invention, but the magnet 34 can aid with holding the liner unit 30 in position within the cap 10.

Further, the liner unit 30 may, but is not required to, include apertures and/or an adjusting void to match apertures 24 and the adjusting void 23 within the crown 12.

Specific dimensions relevant to the chilled cap device are provided herein for the purpose of demonstrating the invention, but these dimensions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is understood that one skilled in the art may make alterations to the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is anticipated that the cap 10 may have a variety of shapes or designs which would still allow for inclusion of the liner of the present invention. Further, it is anticipated that the invention could be applied to any appropriate head covering or to any apparatus or garment that is designed to retain a liner material against any portion of the human body, without departing from the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A liner unit comprising a light-weight polymeric material that becomes cold when exposed to water.
 2. The liner of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material can retain at least 10 times its weight in aqueous liquids.
 3. The liner unit of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material is polyvinyl alcohol material.
 4. The liner unit of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material is natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or a rubber-like polymer.
 5. The liner unit of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material comprises about 80% by weight polyester and 20% by weight nylon.
 6. The liner of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material has a thickness of from about 2 cm to about 4 cm.
 7. The liner unit of claim 6 wherein said polymeric material is capable of absorbing and transmitting water vapor.
 8. The liner unit of claim 6 wherein said polymeric material comprises at least one swellable modified polymer.
 9. The liner unit of claim 1 wherein said liner unit is sized to fit snuggly within a cap.
 10. The liner unit of claim 9 wherein said liner unit is reversibly attached to an interfacing within the cap.
 11. The liner unit of claim 9 wherein said liner unit comprises a magnet sized and oriented on said liner unit so as to engage with a button secured to the cap.
 12. The liner unit of claim 9 further comprising apertures and/or voids corresponding with any such apertures and/or voids in said cap.
 13. A liner unit comprising a light-weight polymeric material that can retain at least 10 times its weight in aqueous liquids.
 14. The liner of claim 13 wherein said polymeric material has a thickness of from about 2 cm to about 4 cm.
 15. The liner unit of claim 13 wherein said polymeric material is capable of absorbing and transmitting water vapor.
 16. The liner unit of claim 13 wherein said polymeric material comprises at least one swellable modified polymer.
 17. A liner unit, sized and shaped to fit snuggly within a cap, wherein said liner unit comprises a light-weight polymeric material that can retain at least 10 times its weight in aqueous liquids.
 18. The liner of claim 17 wherein said polymeric material has a thickness of from about 2 cm to about 4 cm.
 19. The liner unit of claim 17 wherein said polymeric material is capable of absorbing and transmitting water vapor.
 20. The liner unit of claim 17 wherein said liner unit is reversibly attached to an interfacing within the cap. 